Drive for washing machines



Jan. 18, 1955 w. R. FOSTER ET AL 2,699,849

DRIVE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 13, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS Wnus 21 Farm Kim/er A. WP!!- BY 4M ATTORNEYJ Jan. 18, 1955 w,FOSTER ET AL 2,699,849

DRIVE FOR WASHING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1952 FIEE 9Q1N ENTORS (ll/1.1.1: E. FOJTFB #022? K. Wan/e A TORNEYJ Jan. 18, 1955 w.R. FOSTER ET AL 2,699,849

DRIVE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 13, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INIENTORJ Waws 2. Farm than A. Wan-u- ATTORNEYS United States PatentDRIVE FOR WASHING MACHINES Willis R. Foster and Harry K. Wethe, WebsterCity, Iowa,

assignors to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application June 13, 1952, Serial No. 293,482

Claims. (Cl. 1923.2)

This invention relates generally to improvements in clothes washingmachines of the type employing a receptacle for the clothes andcleansing liquid, with the receptacle arranged for spinning rotation tocentrifugally expel the liquid, and an agitator element for washing theclothes, and relates more specifically to improved drive mechanism forthe receptacle and agitator.

A Washing machine of the general type with which our present inventionis to be used is shown in the George P. Castner Patent No. 2,513,845,issued July 4, 1950, and is characterized in that the rotary receptacleis driven from an electric motor through the intermediary of a rotaryfluid coupling having high initial slippage so that the receptacle maybe gradually accelerated. This has a number of advantages as set forthin detail in thepatent, chief of which is the fact that the startingload on the motor is reduced and the usually unevenly or eccentricallyloaded receptacle may be brought up to centrifuging speed with a minimumof vibration. The machine further employs an oscillating agitator drivenfrom an electric motor through a transmission unit which converts rotarymotion to oscillating motion. In the patent separate motors are employedfor driving the receptacle and the agitator.

It is the primary object of our invention to provide an improved fiuiddrive arrangement and drive mechanism by which a rotary receptacle andagitator may both be driven from a single electric motor instead of thetwo motors present in previous machines, and at the same time to providea mechanism for this purpose which is itself not only quite simple inconstruction but conveniently assembled and serviced as well aspractical and effective in operation.

Another object is to provide drive mechanism wherein the motor isarranged with its shaft upwardly and vertically extended, with the fluidcoupler mounted directly upon the upper end thereof and selectivelyconnected to the shaft by means of a solenoid operated clutch. Thus thedrive through the coupling to the clothes receptacle may be establishedor disabled as required while the motor remains in an operatingcondition. Also forming part of this mechanism is a belt pulley fastenedto, the motor shaft to be driven thereby at all times and adapted to beconnected by a belt to the transmission unit which drives the agitator.Power. transmission to the agitator may then be controlled by means ofanother clutch in .a fashion similar to that set forth in the George P.Castner application Serial No. 787,626, filed November 24, 1947, nowPatent No. 2,625,244, patented January 13, 1953, or by any otherappropriate means. Further in accordance with our invention the beltpulley for driving the agitator transmission is so shaped and arrangedthat it forms a component part of the clutch controlled torquetransmission to the fluid coupling.

Still another object of our invention is to provide an improved clutchactuating mechanism which is simple and inexpensive in construction andwhich is specifically constructed in such fashion that chattering andrattling noises will be prevented at all times.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed inthe course of the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thedrive mechanism constituting our present invention including the drivemotor but omitting elements of the washing machine itself aside from thetwo belts through which power is taken from the drive mechanism for thereceptacle and agitator.

Fig. 2 is a composite edge and elevational view of the link forming apart of the clutch actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the structure shownin Fig. 1, with the fluid coupling and associated elements mounted uponthe motor shaft shown in diametrical section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan and horizontal sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fi 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view through the central part of thestructure shown in Fig. 2 but showing the fluid drive clutch in itsdisengaged position.

Since the details of the clothes washing machine for use with which ourinvention is adapted are shown and described in detail in the priorCastner patent and application previously identified herein, thisshowing is not repeated and it is believed sufficient to state that thepur pose of our drive mechanism is to transmit power from a singleelectric motor A to upper and lower drive belts B and C, which arerespectively connected through suitwhich is press fitted a bushing ablepulleys for rotating the clothes receptacle and energizing thetransmission unit which oscillates the agitator. It is, of course,obvious that the specific manner in which these belts are connected tothese elements is entirely immaterial so far as the present invention isconcerned, and also that the drive may be taken from the motor and fromthe fluid coupling, designated generally at D, mounted thereon throughother suitable drive transmitting means if so desired.

The motor A is suspended from a motor mounting plate 10 by means ofscrews 11 and suitable shock absorbing bushings 12 and the mountingplate 10 is, of course, suitably supported in the framework of theclothes washing machine itself. In any event, the motor is arranged withits shaft 13 projecting vertically upward from the mounting plate 10with the fluid coupling D arranged upon the upper portion of the shaft.

Arranged on the lower part of the motor shaft 13 is a pulley 14 having abelt groove 15 to receive the belt C and this pulley is firmly securedto the shaft by means of a set screw 16, as seen in Fig. 3. The upperside of the pulley 14 is then provided with a slightly enlarged, annularflange 17 within which is secured a clutch lining 18. Said clutch liningwhich serves as the female clutch part is made of some frictionalmaterial such as fiber or belting and is annular in shape with a taperedinner clutch surface 19 which cooperates with the correspondinglytapered outer surface 20 of a clutch disk or male clutch part 21. Thisdisk has a central opening 22 in 23 rotatable upon the upper part of themotor shaft 13, as well as vertically slidable thereon. The said bushingis a press fit into the lower axial bore 24 of a fluid drive shaft oradaptor 25 which forms the core member of the fluid coupling D. Thelower tubular portion of this shaft 25 extends down to meet the clutchdisk 21 and mounted upon this lower part of the shaft, immediately abovethe disk, is a ball bearing 26, the inner race 27 of which is slidableaxially upon the shaft. The outer race 28 of the bearing is a press fitin an annular retainer or shift collar 29 which has, ad acent its upperportion, a narrow inturned flange 30 overlying this bearing race. Aswill be later described this collar 29 forms part of a shipper or clutchshifting meclzlanism by which the clutch is engaged and disengageTurning now to the construction of the fluid coupling D itself, theaforesaid drive shaft 25 forms the core of this coupling by which it isarranged upon the motor shaft, and secured to the upper part of shaft 25is an impeller or driving element 31 provided centrally with a hub 32having a key 33 engaging a keyway 34 in the shaft. The impeller 31 isthus driven by shaft 25 and is held against upward displacement thereonby means of a snap ring 35 engaging a groove 36 in the shaft andoverlying the hub 32. The impeller 31 is dished downward at 37 aroundits margin and provided immediately therewithin with a plurality ofradial vanes 38. The driven element of the coupling consists of ahousing, deslgnated generally at 39, enclosing the impeller and madeplug 46 so that the housing may be supplied with fluid as required. Theupper section 40 of the housing is dished downward like the impelleraround its peripheral edge 47, while the lower' section 41 iscorrespondingly but upwardly dished at 48 and provided with a series ofradial vanes 49 spaced from and facing the aforesaid vanes 38. The saidlower section 14 is further provided at its center with a tubular andupwardly extending hearing sleeve 50 and the same is journaled by meansof bushlugs 51' about the upper portion of the drive shaft or adaptor25. Bearing washers 52 are located between the upper end of the sleeve50 and underside of the impeller hub 52 and any end play which may bepresent or which may develop between the driving and driven parts of thecoupling is continually taken up by means of a bearing ball 53 urgedupwardly by means of a spring 54 against a thrust washer 55 at thecenter and underside of the upper housing section 40. The spring andball are received in an upwardly opening bore 56 in shaft 25 and thisend play take-up means is the subject of our copending applicationSerial No. 292,336, filed June 7, 1952, now Patent No. 2,665,553,patented November 12, 1954. Formed at the underside of the lower housingsection 41, centrally thereon, is a belt pulley 57 having a belt groove58 receiving the aforesaid belt B for driving the receptacle and thispulley formation also is centrally recessed to receive a fluid seal 59surrounding the lower part of the shaft 25. The underside of this pulleyformation further stands immediately above the retainer 29 and isannularly faced off at 60 for engagement by an upwardly projectingcircular flange 61 formed on the upper side of the retainer. While thiselement 61 is here shown and described as a circular flange it mayinstead consist of a series of spaced lugs and serve its purpose equallywell as will be pointed out hereinafter.

The clutch 21-18 is engaged and disengagedby means of a clutch orshipper lever, designated generally at 62, made up of two side bars 63and 64 spread apart adjacent one end to loosely embrace the mechanismimmediately below the coupling D, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. 1 Wherethese bars 63 and 64 meet adjacent and beneath the coupling they areapertured at 65 to receive a pivot bolt 66 by which the lever 62 ispivotally mounted on an upwardly turned bracket 67 formed from orsecured to the motor mounting plate 10, with this arrangement obviouslypermitting the leverto be swung upwardly and downwardly about itspivoted end. Toward the swinging end of the lever the same is biasedupwardly by means of an expansion coil spring 68, the upper end of'whichis received in a cap 69 with a center opening 70 engaging a lug 71 onthe underside of the lever. The lower end of the spring 68 is braced orrested upon the motor mounting plate 10, or more specifically upon theupper end 72 of the solenoid mounting bracket 73 which is bolted at 74to the adjacent edge of the plate. The bracket 73 hangs verticallyalongside the motor A and mounted by bolts 75 on the bracket is asolenoid 76 having a vertically reciprocated plunger 77. The adjacentswinging end of the lever 62 projects outward above the solenoid 76 somedistance thereabove and is connected to the solenoid plunger 77 by aretractile coil spring 78. The upper end 79 of this spring is hookedthrough a slot 80 in the lever 62 and the lower end 81 is hooked, toengage an opening 82 in the short end 83 of: an L-shaped link 84. Wherethis end 83 meets the upwardly extending leg of the link 84 hinge eyes85 are formed on thelinkj for pivotally engaging a cross pin 86 carriedby the solenoid'plunger 77 and the upper extremity of the link isnotched at 87 to receive the adjacent end portion of the lever 62. Oneside bar 63 of the lever 62 is then foreshortened and provided at itslower corner with a lug 88 forming an abutment against which the notchedor forked upper end of the link 84 may rest. It is obvious that with thespring 78 thus arranged in connection with the lower end 83 of the linkthat the spring tension will? tend to turn the link on the pin 87 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in fli l ing, hold the upper end of, thelink firmly against said The aforesaid shift collar 29 is provided withdiametrically opposed and radially extending bosses 89 which loosely fitbetween the spread-apart portions of the side bars 6364 and theseelements are connected by means of screws 90 which are threaded at 91 tothe side bars and also screwed into tapped sockets 92 formed in thebosses 89. Lock washers 93 lock the screws to the lever while thethreaded connectionbetween the screws and bosses 89 permits thenecessary limited, pivotal action in these points as the lever is swungupward and downward in the operation of the mechanism, which will now bedescribed. 1

The fluid coupling D is only partially filled with fluid so that when atrest the body of fluid will lie below the upper or driving vanes 38. Inthe manner set forth in the Castner patent hereinbefore identified theimpeller 31 is then provided with a starting vane 94, here shown only inFig. 3, which is long enough to dip into the body of fluid when at restand which is, of course, located inwardly of the driven vanes 49. Itwill thus be apparent. that when torque is applied to the shaft 25 andthe impeller 31' set in motion this starting vane 94 will act on thefluid so that it will gradually assume driving engagement with the vanes3849, whereupon the housing 39' will be rotated. Such action, of course,drives the belt B and it' will be observed that the coupling will thushave a high initial slippage characteristic to permit a very desirable,gradual acceleration of the receptacle driven by this belt.

Normally the spring 68 swings the clutch lever 62 up ward from itsposition of Figs. 1 and 3 to about the position indicated in Fig. 5.Since this lever is connected through the screws 90 to the collar 29 thelatter will be correspondingly moved upward a slight amount and theflange 61 thereon will thus be moved upward into contact with thesurface 60 on the underside of the pulley 57 and will lift the entirefluid coupling, causing the clutch disk 21 to be lifted out ofengagement with the clutch lining 19, also as seen in Fig. 5. The entireupper portion of the drive mechanism, above the lower clutch element,may slide axially along the motor shaft 19 for this purpose and it will,of course, be readily apparent that when the clutch elements 21-18 areso disengaged there will be no torque transmission between the motorshaft and the coupling and the receptacle will not be driven by themotor A. To set the receptacle in operation, then, the solenoid 76 isenergized so that it retracts its plunger 77' or pulls the same downwardand the resulting pull upon the spring 78 will overcome the resistanceof the clutch disengaging spring 68 to swing the clutch lever 62downward to the position of Figs. 1 and 3. As this occurs the clutchdisk 21 is moved down into driving engagement with the clutch lining 18,which is being rotated by the motor, and torque transmission then occursfrom the motor through the coupling to the receptacle.

The pulley 14 rotates at all times with the motor shaft 13 so that thebelt C leading to the agitator trans-- mission is continuously driven. Aseparate clutch (not here shown) may then be employed for selectivelydisabling this drive to the. agitator Whenever required, has beenpreviously explained.

With the clothes, receptacle in operation the drive thereto may bedisabled when the centrifuging action is completed by de-energizing thesolenoid 76, whereupon tween the relatively rotating and non-rotatingparts and sole function the lifting of the fluid coupling 13 and that itis not intended for and does not serve as a brake.

The use of the link 84 pivotally connected to the solenoid plunger 77andslida-bly associated with the clutch shifting lever 62 is desirablein that high initial tension may thus be brought about in the spring 78and so that high initial tension is not necessary in the spring in itsfree state. The tension of the spring 78 will at all times hold the link84 against the lug 88 so that no rattles or other undesirable noises mayoccur and the length of the notch 87 in the link is such that thenecessary freedom for movement of the lever 82 is made possible eventhough this travel may vary due to manufacturing variations. It willalso be observed that the pivot connection between the clutch lever 62and collar 29 is exceedingly simple, using only the screws 90 which aretapped in both the lever and the collar with provision for the necessaryminor pivotal motion between these parts provided by the rocking actionof the collar upon the screws. Thl-S motion is so minor that the axialtravel along the screws is negligible and may, in practice, be ignored.

It will thus be apparent from the foregoing that we have provided a verysimple and comparatively inexpensive drive mechanism admirably meetingrequirements in driving both the receptacle and the agitator of aclothes washing machine from a single motor and one which is not only soconstructed that it will operate with satisfactory results over longperiods of time but which is so arranged that servicing may be carriedout with a minimum of clifiiculty.

'It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fullyillustrated and described our invention, what We claim to be new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is: i

1. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising in combination, a single motor having a shaft, meanssecured on the shaft adapted to be connected to drive the agitator, arotary fluid coupling both rotatably and axially slidably mounted on theshaft, said coupling having driving and driven elements and means on thelatter for driving connection to the receptacle, and cooperating clutchparts connected respectively to the driving element and the shaft andoperative by movement of the coupling axially on the shaft toselectively transmit torque from the shaft to the driving element.

2. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising in combination, an electric motor having a shaft,means secured on the shaft adapted to be connected to drive theagitator, a rotary fluid coupling both rotatably and axially slidablymounted on the shaft, said coupling having driving and driven elementsand means on the latter for connection to the receptacle, cooperatingclutch parts connected respectively to the driving element and the shaftand operative by movement of the coupling axially on the shaft toselectively transmit torque from the shaft to the driving element, andsolenoid operated means for moving the coupling to actuate the clutchparts.

3. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising in combination, a motor having a shaft, meanssecured on the shaft adapted to be connected to drive the agitator, arotary fluid coupling rotatably and axially slidably mounted on theshaft, said coupling having driving and driven elements and means on thelatter for connection to the receptacle, cooperating clutch partsconnected respectively to the driving element and the shaft andoperative by movement of the coupling axially on the shaft toselectively transmit torque from the shaft to the drivingelement, springmeans biasing the coupling in one direction to normally hold the clutchparts out of engagement, and solenoid operated means operative toovercome said spring to move the coupling in the opposite direction toengage the clutch parts.

4. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a motor mountingplate supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for both rotationand upward and downward movements on the motor shaft, cooperating clutchparts secured to the shaft and to said driving element of the couplingand engageable on downward movement of the latter to transmit torquefrom the shaft to the driving element, and means 6 for moving thecoupling on the shaft to engage and dis engage said clutch parts.

Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a motor mountingplate supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for both rotationand axial upward and downward movements on the motor shaft, cooperatingclutch parts on the first belt pulley and on the driving element of thefluid coupling and engageable and disengageable by upward and downwardmovements of the coupling to selectively transmit torque from the motorshaft to the driving element, and means for raising and lowering thefluid coupling.

6. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising a single electric motor having a shaft extendingvertically upward, a first belt pulley secured on the motor shaft andadapted to be connected to drive the agitator, a rotary fluid couplingon the motor shaft above the pulley and including driving and drivenelements, a second belt pulley on the driven element of the fluidcoupling for connection to drive the receptacle, the fluid couplingbeing mounted for rotation and upward and downward movements on themotor shaft, a male clutch part on the lower side of the driving elementof the fluid coupling and the first belt pulley having a cooperatingfemale clutch part on its upper side, and means for engaging theunderside of the fluid coupling and bodily raising and lowering the sameon the shaft for selectively transmitting torque through said clutchparts from the motor shaft to the driving element of the coupling.

7. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, motor mountingmeans supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation andupward and downward movements with respect to the motor shaft,cooperating clutch parts secured to the shaft and to said drivingelement of the coupling and engageable on downward movement of thelatter to transmit torque from the shaft to the driving element, a shiftcollar slidably and rotatably supported about the motor shaft, a shiftlever and means mounting the same for swingable movements up and down,means pivotally connectlng the lever and shift collar whereby movementof the lever will lift the collar against and raise the fluid c-oupl-mgto control the transmission of torque through the clutch parts from theshaft to said driving element, and means for swinging said lever.

8. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a motor mountingplate supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid couplrng on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation andupward and downward movements on the motor shaft, cooperating clutchparts secured to the shaft and to said driving element of the couplingand engageable on downward movement of the latter to trans-- mit torquefrom the shaft to the driving element, a shift collar slidably androtatably arranged about the shaft, a shift lever pivoted to the motormounting plate and swingable up and down, means pivotally connecting thelever and shift collar whereby movement of the lever will lift thecollar against and raise the fluid coupling for controlling thetransmission of torque through the clutch parts from the shaft to saiddriving element, a spring biasing the lever upwardly to normallydisengage the clutch parts, and a solenoid operatively connected toswingvthe lever downward and engage the clutch parts.

9. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a motor mountingplate supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation andupward and downward movements on swingable up and down, means pivotallyconnecting the lever and shift collar whereby movement of the leverwill. lift the collar against and raise the fluid coupling to controlthe transmission of torque through the clutch parts from the shaft tosaid driving element, a clutch disengaging spring normally swinging thelever upward ill to disengage the clutch parts, a solenoid having aplunger movable upwardly and downwardly, and a spring stretched betweenthe plunger and lever for pulling the lever downward to engage theclutch parts when the solenoid is energized.

10. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clotcheswashing machine, comprising an electric motor having a shaft, a motormounting plate supporting the motor with its shaft extending verticallyupward, a first belt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to beconnected to drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motorshaft above the pulley and including driving and driven elements, asecond belt pulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling folconnection to drive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted forrotation and upward and downward movements on the motor shaft,cooperating clutch parts secured to the shaft and to said drivingelement of the coupling and engageable on downward movement of thelatter to transmit torque from the shaft to the driving element, a shiftcollar slidably and rotatably arranged about the axis of the shaft, ashift lever pivoted to the motor mounting plate and swingable up anddown, means pivotally connecting the lever and shift collar wherebymovement of the lever will raise the collar against the underside of thefluid coupling and lift the coupling to control the transmission oftorque through the clutch parts from the shaft to said driving element,a clutch disengaging spring normally swinging the lever upward todisengage the clutch parts, a solenoid having a plunger movable upwardlyand downwardly, a link having short and long ends and pivoted at thejunction thereof to the plunger, the upper extremity of the long end ofthe link having a notch loosely receiving the lever, a retractile coilspring stretched between the short end of the link and the lever andoperative to pull the lever downward on energization of the solenoid toengage the clutch parts, and the lever having an abutment acting as astop for the upper extremity of the link whereby the pull of theretractile coil spring will bias the link tightly against the abutment.

11. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor havinga shaft, a motor mountingplate supporting the motor with its shaft extending vertically upward, afirst belt pulley'secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connectedto drive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethe pulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation andupward and downward movements on the motor shaft, cooperating clutchparts secured to the shaft and to said driving element of the couplingand engageable on downward movemet of the latter to transmit torque fromthe shaft to the driving element, a shift collar rotaably connected tothe driving element of the coupling and having diametrically opposedpivot bosses, a shift lever pivoted at one end to the motor mountingplate for up and down swinging movements,

. 3 said lever having two side bars spread apart to loosely embracesaid. shift collar and means pivotally connecting.

these spread portions to said pivot bosses whereby up and down movementsof the lever will correspondingly position the coupling, and means forswinging the lever.

12. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having an upright shaft, a firstbelt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connected todrive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft abovethepulley and including driving and driven elements, a second beltpulley on the driven elements of the fluid coupling for connection todrive the receptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation andupward and downward movements on the motor shaft, cooperating clutchparts secured to the shaft and to said driving element of the couplingand engageable on downward movement of the latter to transmit torquefrom the shaft to the driving element, a shift collar rotatablyconnected to the driving element of the coupling and havingdiametrically opposed pivot bosses, a shift lever, means mounting thesame for up and down swinging movements, said lever having two side barsspread apart to loosely embrace said shift collar, the said pivot bossesand the adjacent portions of said side bars having aligned tappedopenings, screws threaded through these openings and pivotallyconnecting the lever and collar, and means for swinging the lever.

13. Drive mechanism for the receptacle and agitator of a clothes washingmachine, comprising an electric motor having an upright shaft, a firstbelt pulley secured on the motor shaft and adapted to be connected todrive the agitator, a rotary fluid coupling on the motor shaft above thepulley and including driving and driven elements, a second belt pulleyon the driven element of the fluid coupling for connection to drive thereceptacle, the fluid coupling being mounted for rotation and upward anddownward movements with respect to the motor shaft, cooperating clutchparts secured to the shaft and to said driving element of the couplingand engageable on downward movement of the latter to transmit torquefrom the shaft to the driving element, a shift collar slidably androtatably supported about the motor shaft, a shift lever and meansmounting the same for movements up and down, means pivotally connectingthe lever and shift collar whereby movement of the lever will lift thecollar against and raise the fluid coupling to control the transmissionof torque through the clutch parts from the shaft to said drivingelement, and means for swinging said lever, the said shift collar havingan upwardly projecting narrow element for engaging and lifting thecoupling with a minimum of frictional contact between collar andcoupling. I

14. Drive mechanism for the rotary part of a clothes washing machine,comprising. apower rotated shaft, a

rotary fluid coupling both rotatably and axially slidably mounted on theshaft, the said coupling having cooperating vaned driving and drivenelements and means on the latter for transmitting torque to said rotarypart of the machine, and cooperating clutch parts connected respectivelyto the driving element of the coupling and to the said shaft andoperative by movement of the cou-.

pling axially on the shaft to selectively transmit torque fromthe shaftto the said driving element of the coupling. 15. Drive mechanism for therotary receptacle of a clothes washing machine, comprising incombination, a-

motor driven shaft, a rotary fluid coupling mounted for rotation andbodily axially slidable movement with respect to the shaft, the saidcoupling having cooperating driving and driven elements and means on thelatter for connection to drive the receptacle, cooperating clutch partsconnected respectively to the shaft and to the driving element of thecoupling, and means for shifting the coupling axially along the shaft toselectively engage and disenage the said clutch parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,142,199 Lysholm et al. Jan. 3, 1939 2,627,189 McFarland Feb. 3,1953

2,648,212 Sharp Aug. 11, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,819 Great Britain July6, 1936

